Choosing Dahlia Varieties
I fell in love with dahlias a little reluctantly.
My first exposure to these wild and beautiful flowers was when I was landscaping for the city. I worked with the Tree and Shrub People but occasionally helped out the Flower People.
The Flower People used to fill a gigantic bed next to the performing arts center with huge (and I thought garish and gaudy) dahlias. I’m sure they were amazing but I always thought them a bit silly. I mean, I was a Tree and Shrub Person after all: practical and no nonsense (I am however often unpractical and full of nonsense).
Once I became a flower farmer I still tried to steer clear of these flowers, mainly because of my previous association with them in the city garden.
But then I saw a different side to these flowers by seeing what other folks were growing for cutting - a more delicate side.
So I cautiously bought a few tubers AND FELL IN LOVE.
I am always amazed that from a sad little tuber grows a huge lush plant that can reach 5-6 feet tall with flowers that come in all colors of the rainbow (almost). The varieties I fell in love with first were the psychadelic looking pompons or ball dahlias. After that first year I quickly started adding new varieties each year.
Now I can honestly say that I’m obsessed with dahlias. I currently have 30 varieties (and over 500 actual tubers) safely tucked in my crawlspace waiting for spring planting.
Ball dahlias: my gate-way drug to the dahlia addiction.
So how do you choose which dahlias to grow?
I, of course, love to grow for cutting.
I always want the option to go into my garden and cut a bloom for the table.
Because of this I’m not going to bother with the short varieties or any other bedding variety flowers for that matter.
If you’re just getting started with dahlias, here’s what I would recommend: buy 3-5 high quality single tubers of different varieties and colors. Or more if you have the space!
Read on to learn about a handful of dahlia types. Within each type there are many different varieties of different colors and slightly different shapes.
1) Anemone varieties like “Pooh” are super fun in the garden but a little short lived in the vase. I love these because they are so different from the traditional looking dahlia. They add true variety to the garden.
Pooh - an anemone variety. This is a super prolific bloomer. And SO CHEERY!!
2) Dinner plate dahlias have huge, luxurious blooms. You can easily fill a vase to overflowing with just a handful of these flowers. I love using these in wedding bouquets and just one in a small vase on the dinner table is ah-mazing.
Cafe au Lait Dahlia - the classic dahlia for luxurious wedding bouquets.
3) Pompon or Ball dahlias can be just a few inches in diameter. I find these the most approachable variety. They are round little balls that look stunningly perfect and rather psychedelic.
Delicate and perfect - the ball dahlia.
4) Cactus dahlias are what I think of as a little garish but they can add texture and interest to the garden. I don’t currently grow these but maybe some day I’ll warm up to their crazy look.
Cactus dahlia
And believe it or not, there are more! I thought as a starter’s-guide the above mentioned varieties would be enough to get you going.
When planning your dahlia garden, pick a color palate (if that’s your thing) or a variety of colors and add diversity and texture by getting a few anemones, a few pompons, a few dinnerplates, etc.